Orthotic device

ABSTRACT

An orthotic device to align and restrict movement of the foot and ankle of a patient comprising an elongated rigid lateral support member disposed adjacent the outside of the patient&#39;s lower leg extending between an upper rigid brace member configured to partially surround the upper portion of the lower leg and a lower foot support to support the foot, a flexible leg engagement member disposed adjacent the inside of the patient&#39;s lower leg extending downwardly from the upper rigid brace member terminating in a leg engagement member to selectively engage the calf portion, an upper attachment member to removably secure the orthotic device to the lower leg of the patient and a lower adjustment member to selectively secure the flexible leg engagement member in the second position against the inside of the patient&#39;s lower leg.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

An orthotic device to align and limit movement of the foot and ankle of a patient relative to the lower leg portion of the patient.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous orthotic braces and devices have been designed and developed to restrict or limit movement between the lower leg and foot. Examples of such prior art are described below.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,077,818 relates to an ankle-foot orthosis comprising at least one anterior support member that extends downwardly from an upper leg engaging portion to define an anterior ankle portion which extends to a medial portion connected to a foot plate.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,916,886 shows a foot brace that is self-conforming and removably positionable adjacent to the posterior calf portion, the heel and instep of a leg of a user who has suffered a stroke or other disability. The brace maintains the foot of a user in a normal walking position relative to the leg. The brace is of such structure that both the foot of the user and lower portion of the brace may be disposed in a shoe without alteration or modification of the latter.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,041 describes a lower limb orthotic comprising a foot orthotic, a pair of lateral supporting members, a detached or removable anterior support member, a posterior support member, and strips to resist plantar flexion, dorsiflexion and various of movements of the foot and ankle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,639 shows an ambulatory brace configured to fit in at least partially enclosing relation about the lower leg and foot of a patient so as to maintain this area substantially immobilized.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,078 relates to an orthopedic prosthesis to stabilize the tarsal joint in the case of ligament instability and to provide guidance after injuries to the ligaments comprising a foot receptacle and a leg receptacle. The foot receptacle has an opening at the point corresponding to the heel walking surface. The leg receptacle has, in the triceps plantaris muscular region, a rear opening which leaves free room for the latter.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,875 discloses a pair of resilient ankle braces supported to the sole, inner lining and a separately bound calf support collar of an athletic shoe. The braces include apertures shaped to accommodate protruding ankle bones. Curved lower ends of each brace mount to the heel region of the sole. Formed pockets or restraint means support the braces to the shoe liner. A separately mounted, cushioned collar restrains the upper brace end to the calf. In other constructions, one or more cushioned brace portions may be supported between the shoe and foot. In still another construction, a two-piece, hinged polymer brace is considered.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,535 shows an ankle positioning splint comprising a load-bearing foot brace having a bottom plate for supporting a foot in a supported position against the plate. A pair of splint arms extend upwardly from the plate and on opposite sides of the lower leg. A heel strap and an anterior ankle strap are secured to the foot brace means at opposing positions. The anterior ankle strap presses against the anterior ankle, and the heel strap presses against a specific rear portion of the heel posterior to the ankle and adjacent the calcaneus. The heel strap conforms to the natural curvature of the angled rear portion of the heel so as to apply a specific downward force into the calcaneus. A calf strap is secured to the splint arms for pressing against the angled upper section of the calf muscle. The calf strap preferably does not circumscribe the leg, and is counteracted by a front strap which presses against the front of the lower leg just below the knee. The straps and all surfaces of the brace that contact the foot and leg are heavily padded, and an optional middle strap can be disposed on the splint arms to circumscribe the leg at a location between the calf strap and the heel strap for additional support.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,623 describes an orthopedic brace for articulated joints of the human body comprising support members on opposite sides of the joint and a hinge assembly connected to the support members providing an axis of oscillation aligned with the axis of articulation of the joint. The hinge assembly includes retention surfaces on one hinge member and a locking device on another hinge member cooperative with the retention surfaces for supporting the joint and the associated body members in any one of plurality of fixed angle positions during normal activity’ for quick release from the fixed position to a free-floating condition to enable the wearer to periodically engage the therapeutic and/or rehabilitative exercise of the joint without having to remove the brace.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,748 teaches a therapeutic leg and foot device comprising an L-shaped member having an elongated channel-like portion configured to fit the posterior region of the lower leg and a foot portion extending integrally at right angles therefrom. When used in the correction of drop foot, the foot portion is flexed away from the perpendicular to an obtuse angle with the leg portion to conform to the deformity. In this position, the device exerts a 30 to 50 lb. pressure on the foot area to bias the foot back into normal position. There is also an equal amount of pressure or counter force on the lateral arch to correct outward turning of a foot usually associated with a foot drop deformity. This rigid flexibility also permits its use as an ambulation aid in gait training.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,576 relates to a therapeutic device to alleviate and correct foot deformities and to maintain the foot in a fixed, stable, yet comfortable position following surgery or other medical procedure performed on the foot. The device comprises a leg engaging portion, a foot supporting portion and a heel portion which interconnects and advantageously is integral with the leg and foot portions. The heel portion has an inner and an outer surface and a curvature such that the inner surface of the heel portion can be positioned in sufficient spaced relation to the heel of a user to prevent contact between the inner surface of the heel portion and the heel of the user thereby to eliminate any chafing, or abrasive contact, or decubitus or pain-inducing pressure between the heel of the user and the inner surface of the heel portion. The side margins of the heel portion are adapted to receive releasable fastening members for engaging the foot of a user whereby the inner surface of the heel portion will be maintained in a stable, fixed position in spaced relation to the heel of a user. A one-piece liner is secured to the inside of the device which acts to provide both optimum comfort to the user and to aid in maintaining the foot of a user in the stable, fixed position established by the releasable fastenings carried on the side margins of the heel portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,419 shows an orthopedic ankle brace having a pliant boot that surrounds the ankle joint, as well as the foot and lower leg in the region thereof. The boot incorporates straps for applying compression to the ankle joint. Attached to the boot are a pair of adjustable tension straps vertically disposed about the ankle joint for restricting the mobility thereof. Integral with the boot are a pair of stiffening members positioned about the ankle joint to cooperate with the tension straps in the performance of their mobility restricting function. One or more retention straps are provided to maintain the stability of the brace.

U.S. D503,480 discloses an ornamental design for an ankle-foot orthosis.

While some of the prior art may contain some similarities relating to the present invention, none of them teach, suggest or include all of the advantages and unique features of the lower limb orthotic as the invention disclosed hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an orthotic device to align and restrict movement of the foot and ankle of a patient relative to the lower leg portion of a patient.

The orthotic device comprises an elongated rigid lateral support member disposed adjacent the outside of the patient's lower leg extending between an upper brace member including a concave inner surface configured to engage and partially surround the upper portion of the lower leg below or beneath the knee and a lower foot support including an upper surface configured to engage and support the patient's foot thereon and an inner flexible lateral alignment member moveable between a first position and a second position disposed adjacent the inside of the patient's lower leg extending downwardly from the upper brace member to selectively engage the calf portion on the inside of the patient's leg when the inner flexible lateral alignment member is in the second position.

The orthotic device is removably secured to the lower leg of the patient by an upper attachment member and a lower adjustment member.

The upper attachment member comprises a first attachment element and a second attachment element affixed to the opposite side of the upper brace member to engage each other to secure the orthotic device to the upper portion of the lower leg of the patient.

The lower adjustment member comprises a first attachment element such affixed to the side of the upper brace member and a second attachment element affixed to the opposite side of the upper brace member to engage each other to secure the orthotic device to the upper portion of the lower leg of the patient.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the orthotic device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an inside side view of the orthotic device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an outside side view of the orthotic device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front sectioning view of the orthotic device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the upper rigid brace member and upper attachment member of the orthotic device of the present invention taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the lower adjustment member of the orthotic device of the present invention taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the lower foot support of the orthotic device of the present invention taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention relates to an orthotic device generally indicated as 10 to align and restrict movement of the foot and ankle of a patient relative to the lower leg portion of a patient.

The orthotic device 10 comprises an outer substantially vertical elongated rigid lateral support member 12 disposed adjacent the outside of the patient's lower leg extending between an upper substantially rigid brace member generally indicated as 14 including a concave inner surface 16 configured to engage and partially surround the upper portion of the lower leg below or beneath the knee and a lower foot support generally indicated as 18 including an upper surface 20 configured to engage and support the patient's foot thereon and an inner substantially vertical flexible lateral alignment member generally indicated as 22 moveable between a first position and a second position disposed adjacent the inside of the patient's lower leg extending downwardly from the upper rigid brace member 14 terminating in an enlarged leg engaging member 24 having a pad or cushion 26 attached to the inner surface 28 thereof to selectively engage the calf portion on the inside of the patient's leg when the inner substantially vertical flexible lateral alignment member 22 is in the second position as shown in phantom in FIG. 1. The upper substantially rigid brace member 14 may be configured to engage the front portion of the lower leg as shown or the rear portion of the lower leg with the upper attachment described hereinafter reversed.

The orthotic device 10 is removably secured to the lower leg of the patient by an upper attachment member generally indicated as 30 and a lower adjustment member generally indicated as 32.

The upper attachment member 30 comprises a first attachment element 34 such as a strap affixed to the side of the upper substantially rigid brace member 14 and a second attachment element 36 such as a buckle or loop affixed to the opposite side of the upper substantially rigid brace member 14 to engage each other to strap the orthotic device 10 to the upper portion of the lower leg of the patient. As best shown in FIG. 5, the strap 34 is fed through the buckle or loop 36 and laid back on itself such that a first fastener such as a plurality of hooks 38 and a second fastener such as a plurality of loops 40 are engaged to each other to secure the upper substantially rigid brace member 14 in place.

The lower adjustment member 32 comprises a first attachment element 42 such as a strap affixed to the side of the upper substantially rigid brace member 14 and a second attachment element 44 such as a buckle or loop affixed to the opposite side of the upper substantially rigid brace member 14 to engage each other to strap the orthotic device 10 to the upper portion of the lower leg of the patient. As best shown in FIG. 6, the strap 34 is fed through the buckle or loop 36 and laid back on itself such that a first fastener such as a plurality of hooks 46 and a second fastener such as plurality of loops 48 are engaged to each other to secure the lower adjustable member 32 in place.

In addition, an anterior cushioned restraint 50 and posterior cushioned restraint 52 are affixed to the strap 42 to secure the lower adjustment member 32 to engage the lower portion of the patient's lower leg 54.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the outer substantially vertical elongated rigid lateral support member may include a reinforcing rib 56.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, 

What is claimed is:
 1. An orthotic device to align and restrict movement of the foot and ankle of a patient relative to the lower leg portion of the patient comprising a substantially vertical elongated rigid lateral support member disposed adjacent the outside of the patient's lower leg extending between an upper substantially concave rigid brace member configured to engage and partially surround the upper portion of the lower leg below or beneath the knee and a lower foot support configured to engage and support the foot, a substantially vertical flexible leg engagement member movable between a first position and a second position disposed adjacent the inside of the patient's lower leg extending downwardly from the upper substantially concave rigid brace member terminating in a leg engagement member to selectively engage the calf portion on the inside of the patient's leg when in said second position, an upper attachment member to removably secure said orthotic device to the lower leg of the patient and a lower adjustment member to selectively secure said flexible leg engagement member in said second position against the inside of the patient's lower leg to align and restrict movement of the foot and ankle of the patient relative to the lower leg portion of the patient.
 2. An orthotic device to align and restrict movement of the foot and ankle of a patient relative to the lower leg portion of the patient comprising a substantially rigid lateral support member disposed adjacent the outside of the patient's lower leg extending between an upper brace member configured to engage and partially surround the upper portion of the lower leg below or beneath the knee and a lower foot support configured to engage and support the foot, a substantially flexible leg engagement member movable between a first position and a second position disposed adjacent the inside of the patient's lower leg extending downwardly from said upper brace member terminating in a leg engagement member to selectively engage the calf portion on the inside of the patient's leg when in said second position, an upper attachment member to removably secure said orthotic device to the lower leg of the patient and a lower adjustment member to selectively secure said flexible leg engagement member when in said second position against the inside of the patient's lower leg to align and restrict movement of the foot and ankle of the patient relative to the lower leg portion of the patient.
 3. The orthotic device of claim 2 wherein said substantially rigid lateral support member comprises a substantially vertical elongated substantially rigid lateral support member and said upper brace member comprises a substantially concave rigid brace member.
 4. The orthotic device of claim 2 wherein said upper attachment member comprises a first attachment element and a second attachment element configured to engage each other to secure said upper attachment member to the lower leg of the patient.
 5. The orthotic device of claim 4 wherein said first attachment element comprises a strap and said second attachment element comprises a buckle to receive said strap therethrough.
 6. The orthotic device of claim 5 wherein said upper attachment member further includes a first fastener and a second fastener to engage each other to secure said strap in place.
 7. The orthotic device of claim 6 wherein said first fastener comprises a plurality of hooks and said second fastener comprises a corresponding plurality of loops.
 8. The orthotic device of claim 2 wherein said lower adjustment member comprises a first attachment element and a second attachment element configured to engage each other to secure said lower adjustment member to the lower leg of the patient.
 9. The orthotic device of claim 8 wherein said first attachment element comprises a strap and said second attachment element comprises a buckle to receive said strap therethrough.
 10. The orthotic device of claim 9 wherein said lower adjustment member further includes a first fastener and a second fastener to engage each other to secure said strap in place.
 11. The orthotic device of claim 10 wherein said first fastener comprises a plurality of hooks and said second fastener comprises a corresponding plurality of loops.
 12. The orthotic device of claim 9 further including an anterior restraint position restraint mounted on said strap to engage the patient's lower leg.
 13. The orthotic device of claim 7 further including an enlarged engaging member on the lower portion of said substantially flexible leg engagement member.
 14. The orthotic device of claim 8 wherein said upper attachment member comprises a first attachment element and a second attachment element configured to engage each other to secure said upper attachment member to the lower leg of the patient and said lower adjustment member comprises a first attachment element and a second attachment element configured to engage each other to secure said lower adjustment member to the lower leg of the patient.
 15. The orthotic device of claim 14 wherein said first attachment element of said upper attachment member comprises a strap and said second attachment element comprises a buckle to receive said strap therethrough and wherein said first attachment element of said lower adjustment comprises a strap and said second attachment element comprises a buckle to receive said strap therethrough.
 16. The orthotic device of claim 15 wherein said upper attachment member further includes a first fastener and a second fastener to engage each other to secure said strap in place and wherein said lower adjustment member further includes a first fastener and a second fastener to engage each other to secure said strap in place.
 17. The orthotic device of claim 16 wherein said first fastener of said upper attachment member comprises a plurality of hooks and said second fastener comprises a corresponding plurality of loops and wherein said first fastener of said lower adjustment member comprises a plurality of hooks and said second fastener comprises a corresponding plurality of loops.
 18. The orthotic device of claim 15 further including an anterior restraint position restraint affixed to said strap of said lower adjustment member to engage the lower portion of the patient's lower leg.
 19. The orthotic device of claim 9 wherein said lower adjustment member further includes an anterior restraint mounted to said strap to engage the patient's lower leg.
 20. The orthotic device of claim 19 wherein said lower adjustment member further includes a posterior restraint mounted to said strap to engage the patient's lower leg.
 21. The orthotic device of claim 9 wherein said lower adjustment member further includes a posterior restraint mounted to said strap to engage the patient's lower leg. 